'We forgot to play' insists Pep after loss

PEP Guardiola accused his Manchester City players of freezing as they fell to another defeat at sunny Brighton.

- By SIMON BAJKOWSKI

It is consecutive defeats for the Blues after last week's loss to Tottenham that leaves them well off the top of the table after a start that has been short of ideal.

City's manager has seen more positive signs from his team after the disappointment of last season, and they looked good for the first hour at the Amex.

Erling Haaland gave them a deserved first-half lead and they looked the more likely to score at the beginning of the second half.

However, a quadruple change from Brighton completely changed the game.

They were soon awarded a penalty after Lewis Dunk's effort hit the elbow of Matheus Nunes, and from there on there was only one team that looked likely to win.